Condenser for steam-engines.



C. E. & 1.1. BISHOP.

'coNoENsER FoR STEAM ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I2. I9I3.

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J Ng I C) 3 N O' 3 o G g G 1I E @Gm w l nl x n! E 1 (L: h ,i E 1 e: 1'11jg: u1 N fb E 11 Main/esse s Zv/bqewors CARL BISHOP AND IRA J.IBISl-Oll?, OF IVIITCHELLVILLE, IOWA.

CONDENSER FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

isomer.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.. 21,1916.

Application filed May 12, 1913. Serial No. 767,225.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, CARL E. BISHOP and IRA J. BISHOP, citizens ofthe'United States, and residents of Mitchellville, in the county of Polkand State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Condenser for Steam-Engines, of which the following is a speciiication. p v

The object of our invention is to provide a condenser of simple andcomparatively inexpensive construction, for steam engines.

A further object is to .provide such a condenser whereby substantiallyall of the steam passing through the cylinders may be condensed and usedagain.

Still a further object is to provide such a condenser in which steampassing from the exhaust ports of the cylinder is carried through anumber of tubes in which a considerable surface is exposed to radiationfrom the air and in'which the steam remaining uncondensed is passedthrough water, whereby the condensation is completed.

Still a further object is to provide such a condenser provided with areceptacle for anyy surplus steam which may possibly have passed throughsaid water.

A further object is to provide a condenser of comparatively small andlight construction and provided with a water supply receptacle toreceive the water of condensation from the radiator, and further to actas a heat storing device to absorbthe heat from the steam that passesthrough the radiator when the engine is carrying a load that is greaterthan normal, and in connection with this water receptacle to provideradiating devices to radiate the heat that has been stored at the timethat the engine was carrying this heavy load; Vand furtherto provide inconnection with this water receptacle an auxiliary radiator to condensethe steam that is formed by thehot water within the receptacle.

Our invention consists in certain details, in the construction,combination and ar-s rangement of the various parts of the device,whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fullyset forth, pointed out inl our claim and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Figure l shows a side elevation .of an engine and condenser, embodyingour invention, parts of the device being shown in vertical crosssection. Fig. 2 showsa front elevation of an air radiator, and Fig. 3shows a `front elevation of a portion of a water radiator and the pipesleading thereto and therefrom. v

Our improved condenser is especially designed to be used in connectionwith an engine for automobiles. lVe have, therefore, in the accompanyingdrawing, used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the hood ofa motor car. Suitably supported upon the frame of the machine, where thedef vice is used with automobiles, is a boiler 11.

We preferablyuse our improved condenser in connection with our automaticwater and fuel control, as disclosed in our application for Patent No.761,364, iiled April 15, 1913. For purposes of illustration we haveshown an engine cylinder 12 connected with the boiler 11 by a pipe 13,in which is a suitable valve 14, controlled by a lever 15. A crank shaft16 is operated from the piston rod 17 by means of a pitman 18.Operatively connected with the piston rod is a pump 19, the operation ofwhich will bey hereinafter more fully eX- plained. Leading from theexhaust port of the cylinder is a pipe 20 through which the exhauststeam passes to the radiator 21, which comprises the receptacle orchamber, clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. IThe radiator 21 is providedwith a plurality of tubes or openings 22 passing through from front toback, as clearly shown in said figures. The tubes 22 permit the passageof air, thereby affording a considerable surface for radiation. It willreadily be' seen that a considerable part of the exhaust steam will becondensed in the radiator 21.

Leading from the lower part of the air radiator 21v are a plurality ofvertical tubes 23, designed to be fully exposed to the air. Considerablybelow the level of the radiator 21 isa water supply tank 24 comprising areceptacle having a plurality of tubes 25 eX- tending'through from frontto back for permitting the passage of air for cooling water in the waterreceptacle24.

Connected with the lower ends of the tubes 23 are slightly larger tubesy26 which may be arranged at different heights andy of differentlengths'. Part of the tubes 26'may enter the water receptacle 24 nearthe. upper part thereof and extend toward the rear part of the interiorof said receptacle. Some of the tubes 26 may enter said receptacle belowthe uppertubes 26 and extend toward the middle of the interior of saidreceptacle,

as shown in Fig. l. The lower tubes 26 may simply enter the waterreceptacle 24. 0n account of this arrangement most if not all of thesteam in the tubes 26 will be condensed before reaching the surface ofthe water. Owing to the arrangement of the tubes 26, the steam whichenters the receptacle 24 near the surface of the `water therein, iscarried a considerable distance in the pipes 26 before it is dischargedinto the water, and the steam from the shorter pipes 26 is dischargeddeeper in the water so that all is likely to be condensed before risingto the surface of the water.

The radiating surface of the tubes 23 and the radiator 2l are of suchdimensions that the steam from the engine, when running at normal speedand carrying a normal load or less, will be condensed by the radiator 21and the tubes 23. At the same time the water in the receptacle will becooled to a temperature quite a little below the condensing` point ofsteam. 1t will be seen that if the load on the engine is increased, orthe speed is increased, as when climbing a hill, the iiow of steam tothe condenser will be increased to such an extent that the radiator 2land the tubes 23 would not condense all of it. rThe steam in the tubes28 would then be forced into the water receptacle where it would becondensed and the heat taken on by the water would be given off at suchtimes when the engine was under a partial load.

Communicating with the upper portion of the water receptacle 24 are aplurality of vertical pipes 27, preferably of slightly larger diameterthan the pipe 26. The pipes 27 communicate at their upper end with anauxiliary radiator 28, comprising a receptacle through which pass anumber of tubes 29. It will be understood that the tubes 22, 25 and 29are open at both ends to allow the passage of air.

Connected with the receptacle 28 is a stop cock 30 and communicatingwith the receptacle 24 and extending upwardly therefrom is a pipe 31 forfilling the receptacle 24. The pipe 31 is provided with a removable cap82. Leading from the lower portion of the receptacle 24 is a water ypipe33 which supplies water to the pump 19. A tube 34 y leads from said pumpto the boiler 11.

1n the practical operation of our improved condenser, the receptacle 24serves not only as a radiator but as a water supply tank. The pipes andthe receptacle 24 are filled to the proper height through the tube 31.Some water is placed in the boiler 11 and heated by means of a suitableburner or the like. The engine is started by means of the throttle lever15. The exhaust steam from the cylinder passes through the pipe 2() tothe radiator 2l and from thence to the pipes 23. The steam isconsiderably cooled and some of it is condensed before it reaches thewater in the pipes 23.

We believe it to be a fact that when water is pumped from the radiator24 a slight vacuum is created in the radiator 28. Steam tends to reachthe point of least resistance and is drawn through water in the pipes 23and the receptacl-e 24. 7e find it to be a fact that the steam ispractically all condensed before it passes from the water in thereceptacle 24 although a slight vapor is created in the upper ends ofthe pipes 27 and in the radiator 28. N e have found by experiment thatwater will condense steam more rapidly than air, but we use the airpipes to insure complete condensation. Y

1t has already been noted that the pipes 26 are slightly larger than thepipes 23 and that the pipes 27 are slightly larger than the pipes 26.The purpose of such construction is to enable thevsteam more easily toreach the point of least` resistance should any vacuum exist in theradiator 28 and to cause the steam to be drawn through the water ratherthan simply to draw water upwardly in the pipes 27.

An especial purpose of the radiator 28 is 'to furnish a chamber abovethe receptacle 24. When the pressure of the steam in the pipes 23 and 26overcomes the pressure of the water in the receptacle 24, it tends tomove through the water in the receptacle 24, toward the radiator 28 ortoward the point of least resistance. The radiator 28 may thus be saidto furnish a space toward which the steam may pass or move, on its paththrough the water. When the steam passes into the water in thereceptacle 24, ittends to pass upwardly and keeps up a constant movementof the water. At the same time, the steam condenses and adds to thewater supply in said receptacle, while some water is being drawn off tothe boiler, making a continuous circulation. The tendency of the steamis to pass upwardly to the tubes 27 and on rare occasions some steam maypass to the radiator 28 where it will be completely condensed, therebysaving all the water. Some vapor may rise from the water in thereceptacle 24 and such vapor will be condensed in the tubes 27 and theradiator 28.

The advantages of such a condenser as we have hereinbefore described arenumerous. Owing to the fact that water condenses steam much more rapidlyand completely than air, we are able to use practically the same waterfor a long period of time, thereby enabling us to use a steam enginedriven motor car in sections where it is difficult to get waterfrequently. On account of the fact that the same water is condensed andagain vaporized we are able to use a smaller water supply tank. Theweight of our entire plant is very small compared to that of an ordinarysteam engine, On account of the fact that few refillings are needed, thedeposit of lime is comparatively slight. Of course some steam is lostbut a small amount of oil is found to pass with the exhaust steam sothat the total bulk of material in the radiator 24 remains substantiallythe same.

At comparatively long intervals, the water may be withdrawn and ilteredto remove the oil, and again used. We preferably use rain water with ourboiler where it can be obtained.

It may be noted that the passage of the steam into and through the waterin the radiatorl 24 heats it so that the water supplied to the boiler ismuch warmer than would ordinarily be theY case, thereby enabling us tochange the water to steam with a smaller supply of fuel than wouldotherwise be the case.

In using our plant with an automobile, the warm air passing thecondenser parts strikes the boiler l1 and helps to keep it warm, in thisway also making it easier to produce steam and making it possible to doso with less fuel than would otherwise be the case.

It will be understood that many variations may be made in the details ofthe construction of our device, and that it is our intention to cover bythis application any such variations which may be included within thescope of the appended claim.

7e claim as our invention:

Ina device of the class described, a receptacle a second receptaclespaced vertically above the first receptacle, tubes connesting the upperand lower receptacles, a discharge tube leading from the lower part ofthe lower receptacle, a plurality of steam and water carrying tubesmounted in the wall of the first receptacle and extending toward theinterior thereof at different heights therein, said last described tubebeing graduated in length on the interior of said receptacle, the lowertubes being the shortest and the upper tubes being the longest, wherebysteam discharged from the lower tube will travel a greater distanceupwardly in said first receptacle and reach the top thereof, than steamdischarged from said longer upper tube.

Des Moines, Iowa, April 28, 1913.

CARL E. BISHOP. IRA J. BISHOP.

Witnesses:

A. H. LEONARD, S. A. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). Off

